Wednesday, May 26, 2010

baby coming up behind me, throws his arms around & kisses my back over & over & over again...

hubby's face all grateful & happy that I'd made baked chops for dinner...

the big boy running up to me at school, pausing his very serious game of chasey, to say something completely unrelated & irrelevant but us both
knowing it meant.. 'I'm sorry for being cross Mum, I love you'...

Sunday, May 23, 2010

It's all happening over here! My little superheros must have let their supersonic protective shields down, and in that very moment have caught the dreaded lurgi that has seen their little classmates & kinder friends sent home to the warmth of their mama's knee.

Admittedly, our big boy has been soldiering on with a bit of a cough for about a week now, but he doesn't ever seem to actually get 'sick', he just gets on with it, things to do people to see, no days off school for him!

For the other two though, it came on so suddenly, no warnings just BAM! fever, coughs, snotty noses. The littlest guy has been hit the worst it seems, sounding very much like croup, which based on past experience with our eldest when he was small can become very frightening very quickly...

Anyhow, costumes are a go just like every other day, the sun is shinning brightly, so it's outside for a quiet day on our sunny deck to soak up as much vitamin D as we can...it's going to take more than a little lurgi to keep these little superheros down...

Friday, May 21, 2010

washing..check, house tidied...check, dinner prepared...check, sweet treats, chick flick & a bottle of wine...check, check, check. Just need to pop the kids into bed, and I'm all set for a quiet night in with one of my dearest girlfriends in the world, while the hubbies are off to watch the footy...nice...

Thursday, May 13, 2010

This has been a word that keeps going around in my mind of late. Coincidentally, I have had numerous conversations recently with loads of different women and the topic of perception just keeps coming up. How we are viewed by others, work colleagues, friends, family members, other mums. It's funny how we perceive people, the reality is, we are seeing someones world through completely different eyes & in most cases we are all living the same daily challenges that being a mum, homemaker, employee, employer faces.
I remember going on staff retreats with work & doing the whole team building self awareness & development thing. I remember one time in particular when I was so overwhelmed by the way my colleagues perceived me & my abilities. It brought me to tears & really made me take a look at myself, to view myself in a more positive light & to give myself a break! To me, it was like they were viewing a different person entirely. I was amazed at who they thought I was, this confident, successful, caring & generous person! It's so nice to hear that occasionally, that you are great at what you do and people recognise those very special traits we are often too self critical to acknowledge ourselves.
I look at other women sometimes & think admiringly, "God how does she do it!?" meanwhile, my perception is that she is looking at me and thinking "Oh my god, lady get it together!". I know we can all be very hard on ourselves most of the time, but the fact is we all think and feel the same way & we are all doing a really good job!

It's nice to meet people & talk about the highs & lows of parenthood. To reassure one another that there are times when we all feel as though we are barely keeping our heads above water & other times when life is just a pure & simple joy.
The most profound realisation came over me just the other day...for the first time in 8 years, since I began maternity leave to have my first child, I no longer feel the need to justify being a full time Mum & home maker! I have always felt that there is no greater job in the world than being a parent & raising a family of good, honest, loving, considerate,independent & well adjusted people! My husband & I decided from the beginning that we would be prepared to make the sacrifices necessary for our kids to have one of us at home at least until they all reach school age. While this was a decision that we were very sure about, sadly I always felt I needed to justify myself because I wasn't contributing financially, that it wasn't really considered by others to be a real job & a valuable use of time (or so I thought was how I was perceived).
You know, as the years roll on, I feel I'm getting better & better at my 'job', and now that I have finally let go of the need to justifying my life for the sake of what I think others might perceive me to be, I'm going to enjoy it a whole lot more too! I absolutely love my life. I love that I am a mother, wife and homemaker. I feel blessed every single day that I have been lucky enough to do this full time. Yes, it's a challenge most of the time, dealing with very demanding little personalities all day, but it's all worth it, the fun times far out way the hard. For us, it comes down to simplifying, wanting less, getting back to the basics of good old fashioned family living.
And so in conclusion to this ramble which has taken on a whole other dimension since beginning it, I am going to be sure to let all the other gorgeous hardworking mum's I am surrounded by know just how great a job they are doing too...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

It is absolutely, bitterly freezing!! I've made a yummy roasted tomato & capsicum soup to warm us up tonight. This is just what I love about the cooler weather, all these delicious soups so full & hearty that you can serve them up on their own as a main meal...

This is so good with a dollop of mascarpone, some roasted pistachio & a crusty bread...mmmm, can't wait!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

So now that the gift has been given, this is what I was working on last week...

a full length apron for my lovely mum.

I was going to add a pocket using some vintage floral, but decided less is more on this one...

and my little something for me...

a nana apron!

I'm quite happy with how they turned out & I love that they are made from thrifted bits & pieces. My inspiration for the nana apron is the delightful dottie angel. I'm a great fan of Tif's gorgeous work, but despite my efforts, I have never made it to her shop before she has sold out of all her lovely wares, and so I made a little version of my own...I must say I did feel quite the homemaker wearing it while cooking dinner last night. My dear Nan would always wear the half apron, I think that's why I love them so much...

...and another stool makeover.

I couldn't go past this one either, it's almost identical to one I found a little while ago. A nearby op shop has just received a truckload of fabric remnants, so of course I bought myself a few of those & put one to good use on the stool. I just need to even out the gathers & I think it'll be nice in the bedroom...

Monday, May 3, 2010

I've been trying to teach myself to crochet recently & so far I've managed a very simple neck warmer & a few roses, all of which I am really happy with, but why is it that I can't for the life of me get the simple granny square or circular motif to work?! Everything I attempt turns into a flower....

...and so I continue on my very determined path to achieve the granny!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

I found this great box with a hinged lid at the op shop this week for a whole $5! Once I'd removed the skirt & the cushioned top which was stuffed with lambswool (fresh off the sheep's back goodness knows how long ago) it now looks great in all it's original glory, perfect for the back deck, I think...

love it...

icky before shot...

I also found this great fabric for $3. There's about 3 metres of it! I think it was once a curtain & has since been backed with a lovely vintage floral & made into a couch cover or something...

I don't have a couch to fit, so I'll be pulling it apart & putting the fabrics to practical use in good time...